Synthesis of steroids



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2,946,812 7 SYNTHESIS OF STEROIDS Josef Fried, Princeton, NJ., and Gordon- H. Thomas, Birmingham, England, assignorsto Olin Mathreson Chemical Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Virginia NoDrawingJ Filed Aug. 1, 1958,Ser. No. 752,443

16 Claims. (Cl; 260-39145),

This invention relates to, and has: for its object the provision of, a. method ofpreparing physiologically active steroids and to the physiologically active steroids: produced thereby; a

The steroids of this invention include the ether derivatives of lu-hydroxy steroids of the androstane: series and, more particularly, steroids of the'general. formula pwherein the 1,2-position is saturatedaor double-bonded; R is hydrogen, R is fi-hydroxy, or together Rand R is keto; R" is hydrogen orv lower alkyl, R"f is hydroxy, or

halogen (i.e., fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine),

hydroxy or lower alkoxy; at least one ,X beinghydrogen; I

Y is'hydrogen or methyl; Y is hydrogen, fiuoropr meth} 3d; and Q is alkyl or aralkyl.

The compounds of this invention are prepared by interacting a steroid of the general formula CHQOH R '---on Y V --o I v n V a j wherein the 1,2-position is'saturated or, double-bonded, and. R, R, X,1X', Y, YhndQ areasheteiribefore'; defined, With an oxidizing agent containingf'a ;hexavalent chromium (e.g., chromium trioxide). Simultaneous with the oxidative removal of the side chain, the l'l it-hydroxy group, if present, is oxidized to the ll-keto group,"thereby directly yielding an 11,17-diketo steroid derivative.

The 11,17-diketo steroids, thus formed, can then be reacted with a reducingagent, such as a complex metal hydride (e.g., sodium borohydride); If aalarge excess of reducing agent is used, the corresponding, 11,13,11/3-dihydroxy derivativejis obtained. If, howeven only aslight a excess, for example, two equivalents of reducing agent,

is used, then an ll=keto-l7fi-hydroxy derivative is formed. The 11,17-diketo steroids can also be converted to 3- ethylene ketals or enamine derivatives of a secondary United mf T0 be reacted with a Grignard reagent (e.g,, methyl,mag;

nesium iodide or ethyl magnesium bromide) to yield the together R" and R is ketogl X and X are hydrog'en, a

16cc hydroxyprednisolone corresponding lla-(lower alkyl)-17B-hydroxy (e.g., 1,711,- methyl-UB-hydroxy and 17a-ethyl-17f3-hydroxy), deriva@ tives. These 17fl-hydroxy steroids can then be esterified in. the usual manner as by treatment with an acyl halide of acid anhydride in the presence of an organic base, such as pyridine. The preferredacylating agents are those of hydrocarbon carboxylic acids of .less than ten carbon atoms, as exemplified by the acyl chlorides and acid .anhyd'rides of the lower alkanoic acids (e.g., acetic anhydride propionic anhydride and "caproyl chloride), lower alkenoic acids, monocyclicaryl car boxylici acids (e.g., benzoyl chloride), the monocyclic, aryl lower alkanoic acids (e.g., phenacetyl chloride and fl-phenyl- 'propionyl chloride), the cycloalkanecarboxylic acids, and

1 sone, 1'20: halo 16whydroxyhydrocortisone (e;g.,

lZl-fhiotod Ga-hydroXyh-ydmcortisone),- l2-a-halo-l6a-hydroxycortieone (e.g., 12u-chloro-16u-hydroxycortisone), 12a -halo 16a: hydroxyprednisolone, 12a. halo. 16ahydjroxyprednisone, S t-methyl 16a hydIQXYhYdIQQ /l isone, 6b -methyl:lda-hydroxycortiSone, 6Qd-meIhXl1-I6orhydroxyprednisolon'e, err-methyl-lda-hydro ryprednisene,

,' 2a-rnethyl-l6whydroxyhydrocortisone, Z -methyl-IGa-hy- 'droxycortisone, 9a-halo-6a-methyl-l6a-hydroxyhydrocorcortisone), 6a-fiuoro-9a halo-lou-hydroxycortisone, 60cflllOl'O-9oc-h3lO-160t-hYdl'OXYPI6dlllSOlOI16 (e.g., ;,9o't-difluoro-ltia-hydroxyprednisolone), and -fluoro-9a-halolda-hydroxyprednisone. Particularly preferred steroid reactants are those wherein the 1,2-position is either saturated-or double-bonded, R is hydrogen, R is p-hydroxy or: together R and R is keto'; X and X are hydrogen,

- chlorine or fluorine, atleast one X beinghydrogen; Y is base (e.g., pyrrolidine) in the usualmanne fi and the resulting derivatives, with the 3-ketogroup protected, can

hydrogen; Y is hydrogen or fiuoro; and Q is lower-alkyl or benzyl. I

w The'compounds of this invention are physiologically active substances which possess androgenic and anabolic activities and hence can be used in lieu of known androgens, for example, such as testosterone propionate in the treatment of menopausal disturbances, -for which purpose, they can be'administered in the same manner as testosterone propionate, for example, the dosagegbeing adjusted for the relative potency-of the particular steroid.

The following examples. areillustrative' of the invention (all temperatures being in centigrade):

tone is oxidized with 0.85 of a solution ofchromium I 2,946,312 Patented July 26,

trioxide (200 mg.) and sulfuric acid (320 mg.) in Water (1 ml.) for a period of 30 minutes. The mixture is then diluted with water and the steroid extracted with chloroform, The chloroformrsolution is-washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in 10 ml. of benzene and adsorbed 011 1.5 g, of acid-washed alumina. Elution of the column with 5% chloroform in benzene (200 ml.) yields crystalline material which, after recrystallia Zation from acetone-hexane, furnishes pure 9oc-fl1I01'O-16otmethoxy-M-androstene-SJ1,17-trione .of the following properties: M.P. about 2l3-2l6 (dec.); [M +290 (c, 0.191 in chlf.);

' x3 233 m (e =16,3()) as 5.70, 5.79, 5.95, 6.16,.

Analysis-Called. for C H O F (348.40): C, 68.94;

H, 7.23; F, 7.45 OMe, 8.91. Found: C, 68.89; H, 7.09;

F, 5.27; OMe, 8.67.

- EXAMPLE 2 9a-flu0ro-16u-eth0xy-Af -ana'r0stene-3,1 1,1 7-trione By substituting 150 mg. of 9u-fluoro-16a-ethoxy-A pregnene-l1 8,17m,21-trio1-3,2O-dione for the steroid reactant in Example 1, 9a-fluoro-16a-ethoxy-A -androstene- 3,11,17-trione is obtained.

EXAMPLE 3 V 6 qc,9a-diflu0ro-1 6 oc-methoxy-Ai-androstena-S,1 1 ,1 7 -tri0ne By substituting 160 mg. of 606,906-difll101'0-160C-I1'l6iIhOXY- M-pregnene-l1B,17a,2l-triol-3,20-dione for the steroid reactant in Example 1, 6u,9a-difluoro-16ct-methoxy-A -androstene-3,11,17-trione is obtained.

EXAMPLE 4 V y 6 8,9u-diflu0ro-1 6a-methoxy-A -androstadine-i]1,17-

' trione I I By substituting 16 0 mg. of 6a,9m-difluoro.-1'6a-methoxy- A -pregnadiene-11,3,17a,21-triol-3,20-dione for the steroid reactant in Example 1, 60:,90z-difl11010-16m-I11ethOXY- A -andIostadiene-3,l1,17-trione is obtained.

EXAMPLE 5 a-fluoro-I 6 a-benzyl0xy-A -androstadiened ,1 J ,1 7-trione EXAMPLE 6 9a-flu0r0-16a-methoxy-A -andr0stene-11 3,17B-di0l-3-ona To a solution of 173 mg. of 9ot-fluoro-l6a-methoxy-A androstene-3,l1,17-trione in 10 ml. of absolute ethanol is added at room temperature 20 mg. of sodium borohy- 'dride and the resulting mixture stirred for one hour at 0'. Excess sodium borohydride is destroyed by the-addition of ice-cold dilute hydrochloric acid and the solution concentrated in vacuo. Chloroform is added and after separation of the layers the chloroform extract is Washed mg, 238 mp (e=15,700); Aggi 2.95, 6.04, 6.17

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O F (352.43): C, 68.15; H, 8.29; OMe, 8.81. Found: C, 68.30; H, 8.36; OMe, 8.74.

k Similarly, by following the procedure of Example 6,

. '4- all other 17-keto steroids of this invention can be reduced to the corresponding 1l 3,17;8-dihy'droxy derivatives.

EXAMPLE 7 9oz-fluor0-16oa-methoxy-M-androstene-I 7,8-0l-3,1 1 -di0ne Following the procedure of-Example 6 but employing only 10 mg. of sodium borohydride, 9a-fluoro-l6a-meth oxy-A -androstene-17,6-01-3,1l-dione is obtained.

Similarly, by following the procedure of Example 7, all other 11,17-di-keto steroids can be reduced to the corresponding l7 3-hydroxy-ll keto derivatives.

EXAMPLE 8 A solution of 50 mg. of 9ot-fluoro-16a-methoxy-A androstene-l15,17fi-diol-3-one in 1 m1. of pyridine and 1 ml. of acetic anhydride is allowed tostand at room temperature for 18 hours. Removal of the reagents in v'acuo gives a crystalline residue of the 17-acetate.

Similarly, by substituting other acylating agents, such' as propionic anhydride, caproyl chloride" and benzoyl chloride for the acetic anhydride in Example 8, there is obtained the corresponding 17-ester derivatives.

The invention may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A compound selected from the group consisting of steroids of the general formula and the 1,2-dehydro derivatives thereof, wherein R is hydrogen, R is B-hydroxy and together R" and R is keto; R" is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl, R' is hydroxy, and together. R" and R' is keto; X and X' are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy and lower alkoxy, at least one X being hydrogen; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; Y' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro and methyl; and Q is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl and aralkyl of less than ten carbon atoms.

2. 9a-halo 16or- (lower alkoxy) A androstene- 3,11,17-trione. v

3. 9oc-fl1l010 16a methoxy A androstene-3,ll,l7- trione. V 4. 9a-fluoro 16a -'ethoxy A androstene-3,11,17- trione. Y t

androstene-3,1.1,17-trione. a

-6. 6a,9 x-difluoro 16wmethoxy A androstene- 3,11,17-trione. 1

7. 6u-fluoro 7 9a halo- 16a (lower alkoxy)'- A androstadiene-3 ,1 1,17-trione.

8. 6u,9a-difluoro 16cc methoxy A -androstadiene- 3,11,17-trione.

9. 9a-halo 16a benzyloxy A androstadiene- 3 ,11,17-trione.

10. 9ot-flll0f0 16a benzyloxy A androstadiene- 3,11,17-trione. V

11. 9a-halo 16a (lower alkoxy) A androstene- 115,17B-diol-3-one,

12. 9oz fluoro- 16oz methoxy A androstene- 115,17fl-dio1-3-onel i 13. 9oz fluoro 16a methoxy A androstene 17,8-ol-3,11-dione.

14. 90c fluoro 16a methoxy A androstene- 1118,17B-diol-3-one 17-(lower alkanoate).

15. 9oz fluoro 16oz methoxy A androstenel1fl,l7 8-dio1-3-one 17-acetate.

16. A process for preparing a compound selected from the group consisting of steroids of the general formula and the 1,2-dehydro derivatives thereof, wherein X and 20 X are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy and lower alkoxy, at least one X being hydrogen; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; Y' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoro and'methyl; and Q is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl and aralky'l of less than ten carbon atoms, which comprises interacting a corresponding compound selected from the group consisting of steroids of the general formula CHzOH No references cited. 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STEROIDS OF THE GENERAL FORMULA 